"It's a major undertaking to put forward plans which will make significant changes to this wonderful Ground," said Mike Gatting, President of the MCC.

"The project team has proposed an excellent blend of pioneering architecture and practical facilities to provide Members and their friends with a wonderful place to watch cricket for many years to come.

"Lord's may be the Home of Cricket and the place every cricketer wants to play, but it cannot stand still and must stay open for business during the course of construction.

"This spectacular new stand will help to ensure that MCC stays ahead of the game in terms of the facilities and spectator experience that are provided at Lord's."

The new stand will improve the visibility of around 600 seats and provide a new 135-seater restaurant ©MCC


The new stand, which was designed by Populous - architects of iconic sports venues such as the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, Emirates Stadium and the redevelopment and roof of the Centre Court at Wimbledon - will, according to members of the MCC, "dramatically improve the views from 600 seats that currently have very poor sightlines, and provide a new state-of-the-art match control and match officials' facility.

"It also includes a spectacular 135-seat restaurant with commanding views over the ground."

Philip Johnson, principal at Populous, said working with MCC on the development of the "Home of Cricket" was an enormous privilege for Populous.

He added: "The design for this new stand provides high quality seating and premium facilities, with sustainability and inclusive access at the heart of the proposal.

"This is an important first step of the Masterplan, which will retain the unrivalled heritage and history of Lord's, and ensure that it remains the world's finest cricket ground.

"The architecture of each stand at Lord's is a clear expression of the period in which it was built.

"Our design for the redevelopment of the Warner Stand continues this great tradition."

The development is part of a "Masterplan" for the redevelopment of the whole Lord's Ground ©MCC



The plans will see the Stand increase its capacity slightly from 2,800 to 2,900 with the overall redevelopment of Lord's set to increase the Ground's capacity by around 2,700 to 32,000.

This first phase of redevelopment, which includes further development to the New Tavern and Allen Stands, is due to be finished by 2019 in time for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup.

It will then be followed by phase two of plans which will see reconstruction of the Compton and Edrich Stands and a new food "street" to replace the current food village.

The total cost of the redevelopment is set to be the region of £200 million ($327 million/€240 million) with work completed by 2027.

The plans for the first phase of work have been submitted to the Westminster City Council for approval and, should they pass this stage, will require further approval from the 18,000 members of the MCC.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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